Classmate Biographies

Our people’s lives have taken them so many directions since we last saw them. We hope that you enjoy hearing about them and will want to contribute some news about yourself. Here are some of the many we hope to receive.

Others may be read by clicking on the links shown on the left below.

Walter Bodine – A new biography from Walter. click here

Pete Ruby

After Central, I went on to MSU (now The University of Memphis) and received a B.B.A. in business management in 1960. With an interest in economics and banking, I took my MA in economics at the University of Mississippi in 1962. My employment career has taken me to the Federal Reserve Bank, Holiday Inns, National Bank of Commerce, Methodist Hospital Systems, and now I am currently controller for Christ Community Health Services, Inc., here in Memphis.

		After Ole Miss, I married Katerina Miliopulo in 1962, BA Blue Mountain College (MS); American College for Girls, Istanbul, Turkey, Diploma. She has had over twenty-five years in the health field, working for the Memphis & Shelby County Health Department, a doctor’s clinic in New York state and various private pecialized home care cases
in New York. She is a retired certified Phlebotomist and currently has many projects at home, including becoming more “computerized”.

Katerina and I have two children: Sylvia Ruby Imm (42) National Sales Manager, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio who has two children, Jacob (17) a senior at Cincinnati School for the Performing Arts and Taylor (16) a junior at Walnut Hills High School, also in Cincinnati. Julia Ruby Eason (39), Financial Analyst, W. M. Barr Company, Memphis who . has one son, Chip, age 4. Both Sylvia and Julia received their Bachelors in business at the University of Memphis.

We have traveled all over the United States, the Caribbean and have been to Greece several times. Katerina has also traveled to Canada and France.
I guess that’s enough on us for now.... We’ll talk more at the reunion.

My Favorite Central High School Memories

Being in the Central High band was not only exciting and fun, but we learned to be disciplined, honest, goal-oriented and in essence ready for the new world ahead. We won many medals and awards. It was fun when we marched from the band room in single file in our uniforms to E.H. Crump stadium. We played for our Warriors team and the crowd, which numbered into the thousands.

But, my favorite memory has to be about ten years BEFORE I went to Central. Pete Ruby, Sr., my father, was asked to coach the football team, in 1945, until Coach Ruffner Murray returned from in the service. I got to sit on the bench with the “other” players and even tried on the green and gold uniform; a bit oversized for sure, but pretty neat for a six year old kid. By the way, that year (1945) the Warriors reached the finals, thanks to some great players.

OK, there were other memories, such as the field trip to the Tennessee State prison. I do not remember why Mr. McLean took us there, maybe it was his version of “scared straight” for a bunch of impressionable teenagers. I rememberthe morning Homeroom time, when we had a little quite time, taking role, the announcements for the day and reading the Bible.

When I received the letter about this reunion, I couldn’t believe it had been ten years since we held our 40th..... time flies when you’re having fun.

Brenda Johnson

		From Central to Vanderbilt and a B.A. Got married, had two daughters and after thirteen years of marriage, divorced. Now have five wonderful granddaughters (5 – 14) Two live here in Charlotte, and three live in Raleigh, which is close enough for frequent visits. First job – teaching at Snowden Elementary. After turning
50, got my Master’s from the UNC at Charlotte, with a double major in Educational Administration and Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). In June of 2004, I retired after twenty-five years in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools mostly as an ESL specialist..

Have lived in Memphis; Monterey, California; Kansas City, Kansas; and Charlotte, North Carolina, my current residence.

After retiring, have gotten involved with local government and politics, I have served on the seven-member Civil Service Board which reviews and approves applications and promotions for positions in the Police and Fire Departments. Was also on the Citizens Review Board, which serves as an advisory board to the Chief of Police, City Manager and City Council. In 1993 I attended the Police Department’s Citizens Academy.

Am now doing a little substitute teaching, volunteering at local schools and working on political campaigns.

My hobbies include scrapbooking and cooking (after taking culinary arts courses at Johnson &Wales), have joined a neighborhood garden club and also in a Mensa games group. I’m also an American Idol groupie and a diehard Clay Aiken fan. My daughter, Carol, and I are interested in A Treasure’s Trove, a book with clues to thirteen jewels worth a million dollars.

Am almost finished with the hugh project of redoing my house in case I decided to sell it and move to a one-level home. As a retired teacher, I am able to return to work, draw my former salary and still draw retirement. So I now teach ESL half-time in an elementary school and my weekend starts Wednesday at 4!

Retirement is a wonderful thing! I’m loving every minute of my life. I hope all of you are as happy as I am.

I hope to see all of you at the reunion.

Billy Schaefer

Graduated from Washington & Lee University AND married Margaret Lott (1956 East High grad) in 1960. Received a commission in the Army upon graduation and served "time" at Ft. Benning, GA, and Ft. Knox, KY. (no wartime action) After the Army, I immediately joined Central Woodwork, Inc. (the family business), where I have been ever since. Started and sold a computer software company, bought a millwork distribution business in Nashville, and started Cenwood Appliance Distributors (major kitchen appliances) in both locations.
		We have raised three boys (Mark, Pat, Lee), who produced 6 grandgirls. Two of the boys now manage our companies in Memphis and Nashville, and the third is a real estate developer in Nashville. We are very proud of them! We still routinely see several of our classmates, though we spend our time
now, about equally, between Memphis and Scottsdale, Arizona, where we play a lot of golf and entertain many friends.

My fondest memories of Central are flunking every course in the 10th grade and being shipped off to Columbia Military Academy for one semester. Also, the great Central teachers we had, and the happy-go-lucky, though responsible, attitude of the 50's.
 
Please Email Your bios

Classmate Biographies will be continually updated as people share the events/activities in their lives. Please feel free to write a short message
or email them to me Billy Schaefer. Don’t worry about how they are written. If something needs editing, it can be. And if you so desire, send a digital photo.